She Strengthens

Elevate Your Diner Game with This Moist Turkey Patty Melt Recipe

The classic patty melt, a harmonious union of burger and grilled cheese, is a staple of American diners. We’re putting a twist on this beloved favorite by swapping out beef for juicy dark-meat turkey burgers, caramelized onions, and rich Swiss-style cheese on rye bread.

Lightening Up a Classic

Our recipe stays true to the spirit of the original while making a few clever tweaks to create a more balanced flavor profile. Feel free to get creative by adding Thousand Island or Russian dressing to the bread for an extra layer of flavor.

Crispy Fries: The Ultimate Sidekick

Serve your patty melts with a side of crispy French fries to transport your taste buds straight to the diner.

Recipe Details

Yield: 4 sandwiches
Difficulty: Easy
Total Time: 1 hour
Active Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 small yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
• Kosher salt
• 1 1/3 pounds ground dark-meat turkey
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Cooking spray
• 8 slices rye bread
• 8 slices Swiss-style cheese, preferably Gruyère or Comté

Cooking the Perfect Patty Melt

Caramelize the Onions

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion slices and a pinch of salt, cooking until they’re evenly golden brown and tender, about 20 minutes.

Prepare the Turkey Patties

In a medium bowl, combine the turkey, chopped onion, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Season with salt and pepper, then gently combine with your hands. Divide the meat into 4 equal portions and shape each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Make a shallow indentation in the center of each patty to ensure even cooking.

Grill the Patties

Set a grill pan over medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray. Transfer the turkey patties to the pan and cook until grill marks appear on the bottom, about 5-6 minutes. Flip and cook until they’re cooked through and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F, about 6 minutes more.

Assemble and Cook the Sandwiches

Spread the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter on one side of each bread slice. Arrange the slices buttered-side down on a work surface, then add a slice of cheese, a turkey patty, a quarter of the caramelized onions, a second slice of cheese, and a second slice of bread, buttered-side up. Place the sandwiches on a large two-burner griddle or frying pan over medium heat and cook until the bottom slices of cheese start to melt and the bread is golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown and all of the cheese has melted, about 3-4 minutes more. Serve immediately and enjoy!